Rishi Sunak’s proposal for National Service was met with backlash from young people. But is it that unreasonable? I will argue that the idea deserves more thoughtful consideration.
A Civic Duty
National Service isn’t as bad as it seems. At its core, it is a form of civic service and duty that we, as citizens, should arguably embrace. It’s also something that other European countries, including Norway, Denmark, Sweden, France and even Switzerland have implemented.
As an 18-year-old, I believe we all have a responsibility to serve our country and National Service provides a structured means for everyone to fulfil this duty.
The problem is that Britain’s young people today exhibit a declining sense of patriotism and a reluctance to contribute meaningfully to their country. Understandably, young people may have other priorities, such as school and part-time work activities. Still, sparing a weekend for the good of your country surely cannot be seen to be that objectionable. In particular, young people who do not have any notable responsibilities and who use their free time scrolling through social media could instead meaningfully contribute to society.
An Opportunity to Explore
Many young people acknowledge their excessive screen time, often using the phrase ‘touch some grass’ to remind themselves to get off the internet and spend time outdoors. Ironically, National Service offers exactly this opportunity but it’s still not enough motivation to get the youth away from their screens. Resistance to year-long compulsory military service is especially strong amongst 18-24-year-olds, with only 10 per cent supporting the idea and 78 per cent being opposed — including 67 per cent who ‘strongly’ oppose.
Research from Data Reportal in 2023 shows that the average global screen time for users aged 16 to 64 is six hours and 37 minutes per day, with mobile devices accounting for three hours and 46 minutes. This is a stark contrast to previous generations for whom resisting the duty of National Service was almost unthinkable. The young men who participated in National Service between 1949 and 1963 did so willingly and without complaint.
It’s tempting to argue that there would be far less resistance to National Service without smartphones in the equation. While this may be a superficial treatment of the root cause of civic apathy, there is no denying that some young people are too comfortable with spending their time idly.
A Terrible Idea or Great Investment?
Since its abolition in the 1960s, calls to reinstate National Service have resurfaced periodically. For example, in 2011, David Cameron introduced the National Citizen Service, a voluntary program where young people could participate in community projects rather than military service. However, its impact was limited.
It is also often argued that ‘National Service is mainly considered a great idea by those who will never have to do it.’ In his book Warfare State: Britain, 1920-1970, the historian David Edgerton notes that National Service ‘fostered a sense of national identity and collective responsibility. It was a unifying force that brought together people from different walks of life and instilled a shared sense of purpose.’ This suggests that there is more to gain from National Service than young people assume. Indeed, doing one’s duty can be gratifying and arguably beats futile scrolling and its ugly side effects.
According to data from the Office for National Statistics, there were around 775,000 18-year-olds in the UK in 2021. If these numbers remain similar, 1 in 26 would be eligible to undertake a military placement, with the majority doing community volunteering.
Labour has been very critical of these plans, calling the estimated £2.5 billion cost ‘desperate’ and ‘unfunded.’ So, was Sunak’s National Service proposal unrealistic and economically impractical? Not necessarily. It all depends on how we view it. The £2.5 billion implementation cost can be justified if seen as an investment into the nation’s future, with long-term benefits that could outweigh the initial expenditure.
National Service has the potential to enhance social cohesion, reduce youth unemployment, and foster national responsibility, leading to lower crime rates, improved public health, and a more skilled workforce as young people are kept occupied. These outcomes could result in significant savings for the government and a stronger, more engaged society. All this makes the proposed expenditure a cost-effective strategy for addressing multiple societal challenges simultaneously.
As for generating enthusiasm and engagement, similar schemes in other countries have shown high participation rates. However, smartphone addiction remains a notable challenge. A more practical approach would be to expand existing voluntary initiatives and offer young people tangible incentives for committing to National Service, such as discounts on tuition fees.
National Service should be introduced gradually and realistically. If you need just one reason to bring it back, consider all that time that young people would use more purposefully. Instead of endless phone scrolling, we would finally have something better to do.
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Nina Mercado
Nina Fatima Mercado is currently a university student who is passionate about developing constructive conversation about socio-political affairs. She has been writing with Shout Out UK since her A-Level years.
